Argentina, without injured Messi, beats El Salvador 3-0 in international friendly
23 March, 2024
Argentina plays its next friendly against Costa Rica in Los Angeles on Wednesday as it continues the preparation for defending its title at Copa America as well as winning gold at Paris Olympics.
The absence of captain Lionel Messi didn’t slow Argentina on Friday as the world champion warmed up for its Copa America title defense with a 3-0 friendly victory over El Salvador in Philadelphia.
Argentina beat El Salvador 3-0 in a friendly match in Philadelphia, preparing for Copa America and the Paris Olympics. Despite Messi's absence due to injury, goals from Romero, Fernández, and Lo Celso secured the win. Manager Scaloni gave playing time to youngsters Garnacho and Barco. Next, Argentina faces Costa Rica in Los Angeles.
Defender Cristian Romero opened the scoring in the 16th minute with Enzo Fernández in the 42nd and Giovani Lo Celso in the 52nd completing the victory at Lincoln Financial Field, home of the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles.
Messi, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner now starring for Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami, was ruled out of Friday’s match and Argentina’s friendly against Costa Rica in Los Angeles next week after tweaking a hamstring in Miami’s 3-1 victory over Nashville in the CONCACAF Champions Cup this month. On a chilly night in Philadelphia, Argentina didn’t need him to comfortably win its first friendly of the year against a team that has now gone 21 matches without a win.
Romero was the first to break through against the team coached by Spain’s David Doniga, rising to head home a corner kick taken by Angel Di Maria.
ARGENTINA VS EL SALVADOR MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
Minutes before halftime, Di Maria received the ball on the right flank and set up Rodrigo de Paul, whose back pass was headed by Lo Celso to Fernandez who slotted home from in front of the goal.
After the break. it was Lo Celso’s turn as he finished off another brilliant connection between Di Maria and Lautaro Martinez with a left-footed shot.
The match saw Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni take the opportunity to give minutes to youngsters Alejandro Garnacho and Valentin Barco -- the 19-year-old left-back signed by Brighton in January who stood out for the U-23 team in qualifying for the Paris Olympics.
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com